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Ed Spotlight: The Leader Readers Network

Updated: Apr 10

The Leaders Readers Network, formerly Give More Hugs, was founded by Chris McGilvery and is based in Canyon, Tx.


* image from Leader Readers website ; All following images cited from sources above. See Fair Use Clause at summation of blog.



The Leader Readers Network Website


Founder/Executive Director

  • Chris McGilvery


Board of Directors

  • Sonal Shah

  • Matt McColm

  • Ryan Lay

  • Ivory Bennett

  • Alex Bryant

  • Kristen Davis

  • Dr. Teri Bingham

  • Shanna Peeples

  • Melodie Graves

  • R.J. Soleyjacks (Bivins Elementary Principal at Amarillo ISD)

  • Dr. Shilpa Thaker

  • Vicki DeWille



Advisory Council Members

  • Holly Barker | Controller

  • Khushbu Patel* | Physician Assistant

  • Vicki DeWille* | Past Chair | AT&T

  • Terry Martin | Terry Martin Studio

  • Dr. Mary Liz Brooks* | West Texas A&M University

  • Dr. Keonna White | Waco ISD

  • Dr. Marisa Crisostomo | West Texas A&M University

  • Dr. Robert King | West Texas A&M University

  • Andrew Brown* | The Bradford Hammacher Group

  • Brittney Hill* | Amazon

  • Dr. Donna Gee* | Angelo State University

  • Dr. Robert King | West Texas University

  • Deetress Peoples | Wayland Baptist University

  • Jill Ludington | West Texas A&M University

  • Laura Schulze | Biology and Molecular Genetics Researcher

  • Kaleb West | Pondaseta Brewing Company

  • Sarah Montante | Facebook

  • Joseph Vasile* | Microsoft Health and Life Sciences





Images From 'First Book' Website:




Reader Leaders Network on Instagram | Gender Identity & LGBT

by Leaders Readers Instagram Site





Reader Leaders Network on Instagram | Left-Leaning Leaders

by Leaders Readers Instagram Site





Reader Leaders Network on Instagram | Harmful Materials

by Leader Readers on Instagram

Title in question: 'The Poet X'

Amazon.com comments on "The Poet X"

The title ('Poet X') is available at both Amarillo ISD and Canyon ISD libraries. See book review on this title for more information.





Reader Leaders Network on Instagram Again | More Harmful Materials

by Leader Readers Instagram page

Title in question: 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl



All reviews of 'The Witches' above from Amazon.com .

See "Christian Resources for Countering Witchcraft".




Diverse Book Project on Leader Readers Website

by Leader Readers website

Title in question: 'Look Both Ways' by Jason Reynolds


Review info above from Amazon.com and PluggedIn.com.

Jason Reynolds has numerous other questionable books. A few are listed below. Please know that one of the most outspoken advocates of CRT in the US is Ibram X. Kendi. The second book below, we have linked to a review on this website.

  • "Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

  • "All American Boys" by. Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiel





Amarillo FB Group Alerts Community To Harmful Book Handed Out By Leader Readers Network

10/15/2022

by Amarillo Concerned Parents via Leader Reader Facebook page

Title in question: 'Mexican White Boy'; Amarillo ISD


Reviews from CommonSenseMedia.





Amarillo Parent Alerts Community To Harmful Book Handed Out By Leader Readers Network

10/20/2022

by Amarillo Concerned Parents via Leader Readers Facebook page

Title/s in question: 'Milo Imagines The World' & 'Hear My Voice'; Amarillo ISD


Several reviews from Amazon.com.





TLRN Infiltrated Wills Rogers Elementary (Amarillo ISD)

10/01/2022

by Leaders Readers Network FB page

Title in question: 'All Are Welcome'; Amarillo ISD

See more on 'All Are Welcome' 2 sections below.

Concerns: Matching curriculum supplied by whom?





Leader Readers at Hamlet Elementary in Amarillo ISD with Concerning Materials

09/29/2022

by Leader Readers Network FB page

Title/s in question:

  • 'All Are Welcome' (see next section below)

  • 'Simon B. Rhymin''



Several reviews from Amazon.com.





Potter County Resident Altered Community To Questionable Content Being Distributed

08/07/2022

by County Resident via Leader Readers Facebook page

Title in question is 'All Are Welcome'; Hillside Christian Church




See "Canyon ISD Reading 'All Are Welcome' In SEL Time".





Numerous ISDs Representing TLRN

09/01/2022

by Leader Reader FB Post

Concern here is surrounding educators promoting events and representing a 3rd party group/vendor that is outside the district. Board approved?

Canyon ISD:



Amarillo ISD:


Dallas ISD, Waco ISD, Temple ISD, San Antonio ISD, Northside ISD, Killeen ISD, Houston ISD, Everman ISD, Rapoport Academy, Crowley ISD





Mayor Ginger Nelson & Amarillo City Council Promoting Leader Readers Network

08/24/2022

by Leaders Readers FB Page (in Amarillo City Council Meeting)






Canyon ISD Teacher Representing Leaders Readers Network & Promoting TLRN Events

2021

by Leaders Readers YouTube Page

Again, the concern here is surrounding educators promoting events and representing a 3rd party group/vendor that is outside the district. Was this board approved?






TLRN Recruiting Students

2020

by Leader Readers Instagram page

Our concern here is that there is not mention of parental approval/consent, or permission. Are they recruiting within the schools?






TLRN at Reeves Hinger Elementary in Canyon ISD

03/01/2020

by TLRN Instagram





All of the following content falls under the Fair Use Law and is for the sole purpose of alerting parents of the dangers available to children in the public arena, schools, and the public domain.

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